Capsule for stopping bottles and the like



NOV. 27, 1934. v R. BLANCHARD 1,982,567

CAPSULE FOR STOPPING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Now). 18, 1931 INVENTORROBERT BLANCHARD 6 112.9 atzarvz eys Patented Nov. 27, 1934 CAPSULE FORSTOPIIJIING BOTTLES AND THE Robert Blanchard, London County, EnglandApplication November 18, 1931, Serial No. 575,918 In France March 2,1931 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in capsules of the kind made ofsoft plastic metal and more especially of a compound of tin and leadplated with tin for use in stopping or corking 5 bottles or the like andhas for its object to provide a combined stopper and capsule whicheffects satisfactory closing of the mouth of the bottle without the needof a separate'cork or stopper and which can be readily detached from thebottle and replaced as required.

The present invention consists in a closure for bottles or the likecomprising a capsule of the aforesaid type which may be of varyingthickness and one or more sealing discs within the said capsule adaptedto seal the mouth of the said bottle or the like.

The upper part and top of the capsule may be made of a thickness ofmetal two or three times that of the extended part or the metal may bemade of a thickness which tapers or decreases from the upper to thelower part in or about the degree indicated, or the capsule may be ofthe same thickness throughout.

The stopper proper in the head of the capsule is formed done or morediscs of cork, cardboard. wood pulp, celluloid, caoutchouc whethervulcanized or not or other suitable impermeable material, any cf whichmaterials may be wrapped with or gummed to a thin liner of tin or othernon corrosive substance'and is maintained and compressed in positionover the mouth of the bottle or the like in the process of capsuling,the capsuling pressure being relatively weak so that the stopper willnotbe torn or deformed, that is to say, the metal is not hardened orstrained in the manner resulting from the greater pressure of arollingor spinning operation. With the disc, or discs of the stopper maybe used a fiat or shaped disc of tin or aluminium or other strongermetal or alloy for withstanding abnormal internal pressure, for examplein a bottle containing alcohol in'a hot country or effervescent liquids.

In order to facilitate the opening of the bottle or the like, thecapsule may be provided at or near the lower end of the thicker portionthereof with a weakened portion caused by making a ring of thin metal atthis part or perforating the metal at intervals round the capsule. Byturning the thickened part of the capsule with the hand relatively tothe lower and thinner part, the weakened portion is readily fractured orbroken and-the upperv part of the capsule can then be unscrewed leavingthe thinner portion of the capsule in position as a permanent decorationon the bottle neck. Alternatively two such weak lines may be providedhaving means by which the metal between them can be grasped and tornaway prior to the removal of the upper part of the capsule. Whensufficient liquor has been withdrawn from the bottle the capsule can beagain screwed onto the bottle neck to close the same. The stopper orstoppers may be retained in position in the capsule before being securedonto the bottle by suitable projections extending inwardly in the wallsof the capsule or by mucilage to the top of the capsule.

The neck of the bottle may be decorated in any suitable manner byembossing or the like to which embossing the capsule will conform aswell as to the screw threads or the like formed on the said bottle neck.

The invention will be hereinafter described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawing in whichz-Figure 1 shows inelevation a form of closure with two lines of weakening before beingplaced on a bottle or the like; Figure 2 shows in elevation a similarclosure to that shown in Figure'l after being placed on the bottle orthe like; Figures 3.and 4 show an elevation and a section of a closure,with a modified line of weakening, before being placed on a bottle orthe like; Figure 5 shows a section of the closure shown in Figures 3 and4 after being placed on the bottle or the like; Figure 6 shows insection, a closure having a modified line of weakening; Figure 7 showsin section a closure provided with means for retaining the discs inposition and Figure 8 shows in section a closure provided with a lining.

Referring to the drawing the capsule proper is indicated by thereference 1 and is constructed in such a manner that it can be readilyconformed to the neck of a bottle or jar with the aid of an appropriate'capsuling machine.

As shown in Figures 1 to 8 theftop 1 of the capsule is provided with askirt 2, the top portion being of a greater thickness than the lowerpart of skirt 2 thereof so that its conformity to the shape of the neckof the bottle by an appropriate capsuling machine is assured by thethickness of the metal.

The skirt 2 of the capsule may be sufliciently thin that it may beconformed to any projections or the like 3 on the neck l.

In order to seal the mouth of the bottle a disc or discs 5 and 6 areinserted in the capsule which discs may be maintained therein bysuitable projections 12 (Figure 7) extending'inwardly from the walls ofthe capsule or by mucilage to the top of the capsule or simply by reasonof tightness of fit, the discs 5 and 6 are also compressed in theprocess f afiixing and the pressure in capsuling being relatively weak,there will be no fear of tearing the discs or the capsule. With the discor discs 5 and '6 may be used a thin disc 7 of tin or aluminium or otherstronger metal or alloy for withstanding abnormal internal pressure, forexample in a bottle containing alcohol in a hot country or eifervescentliquids.

Owing to the plasticity of the metal and the difference of thicknessthereof, the capsule can, by a simple pressure between the finger andthumb and by a rotary movement, enable the bottle to be opened, theskirt 2 remaining on the neck of the bottle and the top 1 being removed.

Preferably the capsule is provided with a circular line of lessresistance constituted by a number of perforations 8 as shown in Figures3,-4, 5 and '7 or by a diminishing in thickness of the metal as shown at9 in Figures 6 and 8, so that by the aforesaid rotary movement the upperpart of the capsule will be detached from the skirt at the'line ofweakening and afford evidence of uncorking. When the desired amount ofliquor has been removed from the bottle the upper part of the capsulecan again be replaced. Alternatively two lines of weakening 9a, 9b(Figures 1 and 2) may be provided, having a slot 90 out between them insuch manner that the metal 911 between the said lines may be grasped andtorn away prior to the removal of the upper portion of the capsule. Themetal thus torn will fracture at the weak lines and leave the upper andlower portions of the capsule undisturbed upon the bottle or the like,the said upper and lower portions being separated,

thereby proving that the bottle has been unsealed. Following upon-thisoperation the upper portion of the capsulemay be removed without furtherfracture of its substance. When the capsule is used on a bottlecontaining food products, alcohol or the like it is desirable to preventthe said contents from coming into contact with the capsule proper. Tocarry this into efiect we provide a lining 11 (Fig. 8) of pure tin,aluminiumor other non-corrosive substance which may be separate from orintegral with the capsule proper. If desired the varying thickness ofthe capsule hereinbefore referred to may be obtained by inserting ashort lining, preferably the lining 11 the thickness of the materialforming the upper part of the capsule being reduced by an amount equalto the thickness of the lining so that when the lining is in position inthe capsule the over-all thickness will be equal to that shown in thefigures having a solid capsule. If desired a disc 14 of pure tin,aluminium or other non-corrosive substance may be secured to the lowerpart of the disc 6 to prevent the contents of the bottle or jar fromcoming into contact with the said disc 6.

As hereinbefore stated the disc '7. may be plain as shown in Figures 6,7 and 8 or may be shaped as shown in Figures 4 and 5 so that when thecapsule is pressed on to the neck of the bottle or the like in thecapsuling machine the dished portion 7a of the disc '7 will force thecork or the like disc 6 into the mouth of the bottle.

The head of the capsule may be provided with a knurled or milled edge tofacilitate the removal thereof from the bottle.

It is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to jarsor flasks as to a bottle.

Having now particularly described and ascer- I What I claim is:-- D 1.The combination of a bottle or the like hav ing screw threads on theneck thereof adjacent the mouth, a. relatively smooth annular portionbelow said screw threads, and a portion therebelow having an anchoringand'fraud preventing projection thereon, of a closure for said bottlecomprising a capsule having an upper screw thread cap portion engagingand conforming to said bottle neck screw threads and being of sufficientthickness to retain its shape after removal, an intermediate weakenedtearable portion. engaging and conforming to said relatively smoothportion of said bottle neck, and a skirt portion of less thickness thansaid cap portion whereby it is capable of taking fine embossing, saidskirt portion engaging and conforming to the said lower portion of saidbottle neck having said anchoring and fraud preventing projection, saidcapsule comprising a single, integral, cup-like member of soft, plasticmetal, having an originally substantially straight sided surface ofrevolution afterwards conformed to all of said portions of said bottleneck by relatively weak pressure in a capsuling machine without relativerotation of said cap and bottle, whereby upon rupture of said tearableportion, said skirt portion remains in engagement with said anchoringand fraud preventing projection and displays a ruptured edge, and saidscrew cap portion may be removed and replaced as a temporary closure.

2. The combination of a bottle or the like having screw threads on theneck thereof adjacent the mouth, a relatively smooth annular portionbelow said screw threads, and a portion therebelow departing from asurface of revolution to provide anchoring and fraud preventingprojections thereon, of a closure for said bottle comprising a capsulehaving an upper screw thread cap portion engaging and conforming to saidbottle neck screw threads, an intermediate )weakened tearable portionengaging and conforming to said relatively smooth portion of said bottleneck, and a skirt portion engaging and conforming to the said lowerportion of said bottle neck having said anchoring and fraud preventingprojections, said capsule comprising a single, integral, cup-:likemember of soft, plastic metal, having an originally substantiallystraight sided surface of revolution afterwards conformed to all of saidportions of said bottle neck by relatively weak pressure in a capsulingmachine without relative rotation of said cap and bottle, whereby uponrupture of said tearable portion, said skirt portion remains inengagement with said anchoring and fraud preventing projections anddisplays a ruptured edge, and said screw cap portion may be removed andreplaced as a temporary closure.

3. The combination of a bottle or the like having screw threads on theneck thereof adjacent the mouth, a relatively smooth annular portionbelow said screw threads, and a portion therebelow departing from asurface of revolution to provide an anchoring and fraud preventingprojection thereon, of a closure for said bottle comprising a capsulehaving an upper screw thread cap portion engaging and conforming to saidbottle neck screw threads and of a thickness sufficient to retainitsshape after removal, an intermediate weakened tearable portionengaging and conforming to said relatively smooth portion of said bottleneck, and a skirt portion of less thickness than said cap portionwhereby it is capable of taking fine embossing, said skirt portionengaging and conforming to the said lower portion of having anoriginally substantially straight sided surface of revolution afterwardsconformed to all of said portions of said bottle neck byrelatively' weakpressure in a capsuling machine without relative rotation of said capand bottle, whereby said sealing member is compressed, and whereby uponrupture of said tearable portion, said skirt portion remains inengagement with said anchoring and fraud preventing projection anddisplays a ruptured edge, and said screw cap portion may be removed andreplaced as a temporary closure.

4. The combination of a bottle or the like having screw threads on theneck thereof adjacent the mouth, a relatively smooth annular portionbelow said screw threads, and a portion therebelow departing from asurface of revolution to provide anchoring and fraud preventing portionsthereon, of a closure for said bottle comprising a capsule having anupper screw thread cap portion engaging and. conforming to saidv bottleneck screw threads, an intermediate weakened tearable portion engagingsaid bottle neck, and a skirt portion engaging and conforming to thesaid lower portion of said bottle'neck having said anchoring and fraudpreventing projections,

said capsule comprising a single, integral, cuplike member of plasticmetalconformed to all of said portions of said bottle neck, whereby uponrupture of said tearable portion, said skirt portion remains inengagement with said anchoring and fraud preventing projections anddisplays a ruptured edge, and said screw cap portion may be removed andreplaced as a temporary closure.

5. The combination with a receptacle equipped with thread formationsadjacent its mouth portion to engage a sealing cap, and equipped belowsaid thread formations with meansfor preventing rotation of a sealingcap, of a sealing cap equipped at its open end portion with means forengaging the last mentioned means on the bottle and equipped withthreads for cooperation with said thread formations, said interengagingthreads and means cooperating to prevent allmovement of the caprelatively to the receptacle,

saidcap equippedbetween said means and threads thereof with annularlyarranged weakening formations rendering said cap severable between itsends upon effecting rotation of the threaded end portion thereofrelatively to the other end portion thereof and said threadsconstituting a means for applying sufiicient tension upon the weakeningformations to effect severance of said cap.

ROBERT BLANCHARD.

